Hi, I’m new to this group here. Just hoping to find some support. I’m 45 years old and got diagnosed with glaucoma 3 months ago. In my left eye, it’s in the mild stage with about 97% of vision left. In my right eye, it’s in the moderate-severe stage with about 77% of vision left. On my right eye, there is a permanent blurry effect on the upper half of my right eye. The doctors believe this is vision loss which is non-recoverable. These past months have been difficult for me. I am currently on prescribed eye drops twice at night and once in the morning to control my eye pressures. My pressures are actually considered low, but apparently the doctors said I have normal-tension glaucoma. The optic nerves in both eyes are also damaged, with the right eye optic nerve in a worse condition. I’ve always been an active person and have been going regularly to the gym for the past 20 years+. The doctors at Singapore National Eye Centre says it’s ok to do my upper body workouts but a second opinion at a private practice says I should stop all my upper body workouts due to a risk of increasing eye pressure during my gym workouts. I’m at a loss as to which doctor to listen to. I still go to the gym but I’m fearful and very wary of straining myself. Even after a gym workout, I’m overthinking if my eyes are becoming more blurry or if I had overstrain my exercises. I’m considered a skinny frame and have been going to the gym to bulk-up. I have considered giving up my gym activities, but the thought of shrinking in size and back to my skinny frame makes me upset and demoralized. I really don’t know what to do.
I have a wife and teenage daughter too. The thought of going blind in future makes me often feel miserable, lost and depressed. While I know that perhaps I can still rely on my left eye which has still good vision, the thought of losing my right eye is very hard to accept. My goals, dreams and plans for my future and retirement seem distant and uncertain. I try not to think about my eye condition but the permanent blurriness on my upper right eye is a constant reminder. I used to be a positive, happy and driven person but this glaucoma diagnosis ha changed me. I tend to want to isolate myself even at home with family, and I just find myself pretending to be ok so that my wife and daughter won’t get worried. It’s very hard, and I’m literally trying to live day by day. I try to ignore the negative thoughts but it sub-consciously keeps coming back. Life seem bleak and uncertain now, and this disease is not curable. I can only delay the progression of glaucoma. I find myself often trying to cope with my overthinking thoughts and anxiety, and often feel depressed. My job itself is quite hectic but I pays quite well. I feel I have no choice but to continue working as I have to save up for the future should my condition become much worse. The reality is it will be difficult for a blind or visually-handicapped person to find work.
There are so many things that go through my mind. My eyesight, my future, the life I had planned with my wife, the plans I had looked forward to seeing my daughter get married and having grandchildren. All these plans seem distant and uncertain now. I’m not sure how long I can tolerate living like this. Just feeling very low and depressed on a constant basis.
I am very sad to hear about your diagnosis and the challenges you are facing. It is completely understandable to feel overwhelmed, anxious and depressed. Glaucoma can be a significant life adjustment, and it is important to acknowledge your emotions and concerns.
You are not alone in this journey, so please do take heart. Many people with glaucoma lead active lives, and with the right management, you can continue to enjoy your passions, including your gym workout.
Would you like to consider seeking a third opinion from a specialist to help clarify the risks about exercising. This specialist could potentially also provide personalised guidance.
I believe it is important to prioritise your mental health and well-being in parallel to your physical health. Consider seeking professional counseling or therapy to cope with the anxiety depression and overthinking. Counsellors work closely with you to develop strategies to manage your emotions and improve the overall quality of life
Remember you are not alone in this journey. Your family, friends and medical professionals are there to support you.
I found some resources that may be useful:
Take it slow for now. Keep in mind that it is OK to take one day at a time and focus first on your well-being.
Your heartfelt reply touches me and I truly appreciate it. It’s heartwarming to know someone out there cares enough to reply. I did consider a 03rd opinion, but I’m also wary of the vague replies the doctors might advise. 3 doctors from the public sector gave assurances it’s ok to do upper-body exercises, but a specialist from the private sector gave a strong recommendation to discontinue upper body exercises permanently forever. When I raised up the private doctor’s 02nd opinion, the public sector doctors mentioned it does not seem reasonable or even healthy to stop all upper body exercises permanently. Logically it does make some sense to me to still continue non-strenuous upper body exercises to maintain health and well-being. With the public sector, I have found unfortunately that sometimes I am really just another number to the doctors who just don’t care. I have unfortunately encountered a particular public sector eye doctor who told me straight he has no time to answer my enquires as he has many patients in the queue. The doctor then concluded our conversation by telling me my body will be able to adapt to only having one eye eventually. I was alone and felt crushed by his words, and hence spiraled into depression. This is the reason why I’m still deciding whether to spend the money for a 03rd opinion. Sometimes the doctors just give a very grey answer, and brush the patients away.
It is a long and difficult road ahead, and I hope to one day come to terms with my condition. I will likely seek some counselling help to cope with my overthinking, anxiety and depression. Thank you again for the listening ear, and may you have a blessed day ahead.
Hello! I just saw your post looking for support groups for people in SG with Glaucoma.
I’m in almost the same situation, just diagnosed a few weeks ago. I’m 43yo with a husband and pri sch kids, and I’m so scared. My doc at SNEC didn’t even tell me how much vision I’d lost, just briefly showed me a scan that was increasing in red, gave me a brochure for SLT and told me to have a good life. I’m having a 2nd opinion tmr, and maybe even a 3rd opinion because I’ve been stressing out so much, almost sinking into a bit of depression because I can’t focus at work thinking about how I’m going 100% blind (not even light perception).
From what I’ve read, it looks like moderate cardio might be best, like walking or jogging. I used to lift light weights, but I stopped immediately after getting my diagnosis because I’m scared of what might happen. I’m thinking that perhaps you should get a 3rd opinion because there are so many unknowns really, loads of fear-mongering, and it makes it so hard for people like you and me who tends to overthink and overworry. I’ve gotten to the point I’m sometimes going around with an eye mask on, just to get a bit used to being blind, and to help with mental prep.
It’s really so scary especially knowing that whatever damage done can never be recovered.
Just wondering if there’s a support group you’ve found online or in person this past year? I really you’ve been doing all right this past year, and keeping up with your doc visits. Would be great to connect if there’s a way to, I’m sure we’re not alone in SG with this condition!
Hi @Capricorn21 and @Lifewontbethesame thanks for sharing your stories with us. I really relate to this, as my grandpa also has glaucoma.
Each person’s progression with the disease will be different, but he has lived with it for many years now! Although he has lost significant peripheral vision, he still has his vision in his 90s. I share this not to promise that this will be your outcome, but that the disease is manageable, especially with medical support. Most of all, glaucoma is progressive. While it means it may get worse over time, it usually isn’t sudden and now that you’re on follow-up, you and your professionals can likely catch any changes early on, and further intervention can be done if necessary.
It’s a challenging thing to receive a glaucoma diagnosis, or even the potential of it, and it’s really important for you to be supported during this time. It is scary, but what I’m feeling as well hearing from you @Lifewontbethesame is that preparing for the worst has kind of started to bring the worst into the present. I’m imagining myself having to prepare and go around in an eye mask, and it’s almost like the days of being blind is now, on top of wondering when it might be in the future. I’m wondering if you notice this or how you feel about this?
I don’t know (though I hope!) Capricorn21 replies, but I do hope that you receive some support – so that your now feels less scary and controlled by the unknown so you can enjoy the life and eyesight you do have now. Counselling is always there, and I believe on your next visits at SNEC, you can request for some additional support for the emotions your facing as well, such as support groups.
Hi @lilac so wonderful to hear from you! Thank you for your reply. Your grandpa sounds so strong, and it’s wonderful he hasn’t let his loss of vision stop him from having a great life！
Yes, getting a diagnosis is really so scary I went for my 2nd opinion and was confirmed that I’m high risk, so not really having glaucoma yet, but because of my high myopia when I was younger, I’m definitely on the watch list. I wish the previous doc had told me this, and not just thrown me off with the brochure and a few sentences, with no time to process or ask any questions. It’s of course a high possibility I would start losing sight but I was assured I’ll be closely monitored.
You’re right, it’s like I’m bringing the future worries into the present, and I always feel like I need to be mentally prepared. It’s not a good feeling, I know I’m robbing my present, but I always feel I need to at least take action while I can instead of waiting till I need to cross the bridge, then it’s too late for me for mentally get used to things, especially in a huge change such as this (being blind). I’m going to see a psychologist / counsellor for this soon.
I do hope @Capricorn21 replies! I would love to connect, if nothing else just for the emotional support we can provide each other who are in the same situation.
Although getting a second opinion is scary, I’m glad that it sounds like you got some clarity. Something unnamed and vague can seem a lot scarier than something clearer and named — when we can see for ourselves what we’re dealing with. It’s good to hear you were taken better care of at your appointment, you deserve that clarity
I’m also heartened to hear that you’ll be seeing a psychologist or counsellor for this soon! You also deserve to have someone supporting you in this difficult time — no one deserves to walk through this alone
Even if @Capricorn21 doesn’t reply (it has been some time since the posting), I hope that you find emotional support across your social networks, be it your soon to be psychologist/therapist, or your loved ones, or even here on Let’s Talk. Perhaps it may not be emotional support from a person going through the same thing, but we’re here for you nonetheless.
I went for my 2nd opinion and was confirmed that I’m high risk, so not really having glaucoma yet, but because of my high myopia when I was younger, I’m definitely on the watch list. I wish the previous doc had told me this, and not just thrown me off with the brochure and a few sentences, with no time to process or ask any questions. It’s of course a high possibility I would start losing sight but I was assured I’ll be closely monitored.
